How to Create a Topical Map SEO
SEO is the act of optimizing the amount of traffic to a site and the organic growth of the site through SERP ranking. An effective SEO plan includes developing a topic cluster to address all possible keyword types within the chosen domain. A topical map displays all the material published on a particular site and shows main topics, serial subtopics, and corresponding keywords.
The following is a guide to creating a topical map for SEO, the advantages of doing so, how to complete the keyword research step, how to structure topics and sub-topics, plus how to represent the finished map.
Advantages of Developing a Topical Map Strategy for SEO
1. Improved User Experience: An efficient map of topics utilizes a site in a way that best directs users to the things they need without much effort. Thus, there are more interactions, fewer bounce rates, and more time on site, which will positively affect the ranking.
2. Higher Ranking: Because you will be answering virtually any search query related to your niche, you will have more opportunities to clinch more keywords. That means people can get to know more about you, build traffic on your site, and increase your search engine ranking.
3. Better Content Planning: A topical map gives you a framework under which everything in your niche can be covered in terms of organization and planning. This assists in dealing with cases of content gaps as well as repetitions that are damaging to SEO.
4. Easier Site Crawling: Search engines favor sites with well-defined and sensible organization of the pages within. The advantage is apparent since a topical map ensures that search engines can easily determine how your pages are related, and thus index your content appropriately.
Keyword Research is One of the Main and Most Important Stages
The process of developing a topical map starts with keyword research. This includes the main subject, minor topics, and the relevant keywords for a specific market interest.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Brainstorm: In the first step, you should write all the potential headings correlated to the subject area which interests you. Think about your audience’s parameters and the questions they might ask.
2. Use Keyword Research Tools: For example, you can use Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush or Ahrefs to find related keywords and their search. Also, they can be used to find long-tail keywords and keyword modifiers.
3. Analyze Competitors: Find out what your competitors offer and what keywords they rank for. Moz, Ahrefs, SEMrush, or any other tool may be used to discover information about their keywords and approaches.
Categorize
Having your list of keywords ready, the next operation is to categorize it under topics and subtopics.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Group Keywords: Classifying related keywords into the main topics is necessary. For example, if your keywords are “best coffee makers,” or “coffee grinder,” or “coffee brewing tips,” you can just lump these under one topic: Coffee Making.
2. Create Subtopics: In accordance with each main approach, elaborate certain subtopics that define certain aspects of the main approach. For example, “Coffee making.” Some sub-topics will be “Coffee maker reviews,” “Coffee grinders,” and “Coffee Brewing Methods.”
3. Prioritize: The priority level gives each topic and its respective subtopics a rating on the basis of their relation to the business, keyword competition, and traffic. By doing so, you will identify what your SEO needs to target to improve efforts in terms of topics.
Visualizing the Map
Following the development of topics and subtopics, you will be ready to create a map of your work.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Choose a Tool: Using Mindmeister, XMind, or Lucid Chart, you can design topical maps. Select one that is recommended for you and is convenient to use.
2. Create Main Topics: To create clusters on your map, start by creating major topics or areas of your map such as branches or nodes. This way, you can use colors or shapes to distinguish between the main topics and the subtopics which come under each of them.
3. Add Subtopics: As shown by the structure in the example, under each main idea, you can name subtopics as the branches or nodes. Employ lines or connectors in order to link main concepts and sub-concepts.
4. Categorize Keywords: Append the appropriate keyword to a topic and subtopic. This will assist you in tracking the keywords you use and guarantee that you address all themes linked to your niche.
5. Update Regularly: As mentioned before, SEO is a continuous process, and your topical map should be reviewed and updated as necessary due to changes in your content, keywords, and industry.
Bill Yeager, Co-Owner of High Point SEO & Marketing in CT
